After heavy rain, the riprap from a subdivision in Sitio Kalubihan, Barangay Casili, Mandaue City collapsed on a boarding house yesterday, leaving one 13-year-old trapped under rubble. In an article by The Freeman, Vicente Cariquitan Jr., 13, has still not yet been found by rescuers after rocks and limestone fell on top of the boarding house where he with his family and another four families resided. Two of his siblings were also buried under with as they were watching television but Creslie, 3 years old, and Vladimir, 19 years old, are now out and safe.

Ericson, their 17-year-old sibling, was at their neighbor’s at past 4:00 PM when he heard a thundering noise. His entire family was inside the house when the riprap started to collapse. Thanks to one of the other tenants, Liberato Libre, who warned them about the oncoming danger, Vicente Sr and Anally, the parents were able to take three of their children to safety, namely Shekira, the youngest at 10 months old; Klean, 9 years of age; and Shehan Grace, 11 years old. The 3 others, Creslie, Vicente Jr., and Vladimir, were not able to escape in time.

Creslie was easily found and rescued. Unable to help the other victims, they decided to call for assistance. Responding to the emergency were “members of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) Inc., Accident Control Emergency Rescue Team (ACERT), Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Mandaue City Fire Station, Mandaue City Police Office, and officials from Barangays Tawason, Casili and Cubacub” as reported in The Freeman.

The rescuers were able to find Vladimir, buried in the rubble, and dug him out. He was given dextrose and oxygen which were to prevent him from progressing into cardiac arrest as he was very weak. Ericson shared that his brother had said, “Sakit kaayo di na makaya.” As of the last report, Vicente Jr. has not yet been located.

Ericson said they noticed 3 weeks earlier that the riprap had started to expand. Since then, residents were worried that it would collapse and so, spent less and less time indoors.